Hospital sued after 'errors' led to death of baby in womb

Monica Fernandez and Garry Schone, with their children Oliver, eight, and Vivien, three

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The parents of a baby girl who died in the womb because hospital staff did not follow safety guidelines have said they remain "completely devastated".

Monica Fernandez and her partner Garry Schone lost their second child, Lydia, at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill on March 18 2010, the day before she should have been delivered by elective caesarean.

Due to complications with Ms Fernandez’s first pregnancy in 2006, her second pregnancy was classed as high-risk and should have been consultant-led in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

But midwives failed to undertake ultrasound scans on the dates recommended in Monica’s care plan.

She was then discharged from consultant-led care the month before she was booked to have an elective caesarean, despite having concerns about the lack of movement from her baby.

An ultrasound was performed the day before she was due to have the caesarean, but staff could not find a heartbeat for Lydia and the couple were given the news that she had died. Ms Fernandez then also had to endure the suffering of giving birth her naturally.

The 38-year-old, who works as an interpreter, said: “I’d had to have an emergency caesarean with my first child when he became distressed during labour, so I was pleased that the midwifery staff put in place a specific high-risk care plan for Lydia so we could both be monitored closely.

“I’d had some concerns that I couldn’t feel her moving so when I was told that I was being discharged from the consultant-led care, we were surprised and concerned.

“I’ll never forget being given the news that there was no heartbeat, it was as if our whole world came crashing down.

"But the worst bit was realising I was still going to have to deliver her – it was absolutely horrendous and not something any parent should have to go through."

Devastated

Ms Fernandez added they were still struggling to come to terms with Lydia’s death and "remain completely devastated".

"As far as we’re concerned, it simply should not have happened," she added.

“We would like reassurance that improvements have been made to prevent anyone else suffering in the same way we have, and we feel that’s the least we deserve given we lost our baby girl.”

The couple instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the care provided by Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust - which runs East Surrey Hospital - securing an undisclosed settlement to fund specialist counselling to help them.

Michael Wilson, chief executive of the trust, extended his "sincere condolences" to the family "for their loss and sadness".

"Detailed investigations undertaken at the trust following Lydia’s death in 2010 revealed that aspects of Monica’s antenatal care and treatment fell below that which she and her family were entitled to expect," he said.

"The trust and staff are deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding Lydia’s death and recognise that it has been a very distressing time for the family.

“The trust has formally apologised to the family and acknowledged the errors in Monica’s care.

"We have learnt from the errors that were made and improved our services. Today, in 2014, the trust is a very different place.”